Upshift Issue 37 - September 2019

Issue 37

September 2019

POWER TO THE TOP KTM 300 XC-W TPI KTM Factory riders are continually shifting the boundaries of possibility.

Their demands have resulted in a new generation of complete high-performance offroad machines that offer outstanding handling and agility, improved ease of use and efďŹ cient power delivery across the whole rev range.

The new KTM 300 XC-W TPI is a race-reďŹ ned machine of the highest caliber, built to conquer every challenge in your journey to the top.

KTM Group Partner

Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scene, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations. The illustrated vehicle may vary in selected details from the production model and feature optional equipment available at additional cost. European specification model shown for illustration purposes only.

Photo: R. Schedl

www.kiska.com

Photo: R. Schedl

Professional rider on closed course depicted. Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations! The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.

www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com

THE ALL-NEW TE 150i Designed to take on the toughest trails, the all-new 2020 TE 150i is a highly capable off-road motorcycle, thanks to electronic fuel injection technology and a new dynamic chassis for a light and agile experience. This innovative 2-stroke machine pushes the boundaries of performance and maneuverability, letting you concentrate on the ride wherever the trail may lead.

Issue 37 SEPTEMBER 2019

THE INSIDER

ry information: These drawings contain information ry to Upshift. Any reproduction, or transmittal of this on without expressed written consent is prohibited by se partial or complete of the sordCover marks is prohibited hable to the full extent of the law. Cudby Simon Issue 37

September 2019

To SHARe OR NOT TO SHARE

LOGO SHEET

INSTA-ADV

INSTAGRAM TRAVELERS

Design Chris Glaspell Photography Editor Simon Cudby Contributing Writers Tim Burke Stephen W. Clark Chad de Alva Spencer Hill

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GEAR THE LATEST

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CMYK: C40 M30 Y30 K100

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Contributing Photographers Tim Burke Stephen W. Clark Chad de Alva Olivier de Vaulx Spencer Hill

BRIDGESTONE BATTLAX ADVENTURECROSS AX41

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Africa Part II

Story Editor Stefanie Glaspell

TIM BURKE TRAVELS NORTH

Business Development Brandon Glanville

Wild Country

Mountain View Motorcycle Adventures

Want to advertise with us?

Contact: Brandon Glanville brandon@upshiftonline.com

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Contact: info@upshiftonline.com

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DESTINATION STANLEY Upshift Magazine is published monthly

by Upshift Online Inc. 2019. Reproduction of any material requires written consent from the publishers. All photos, editorial contributions and advertisements are accepted upon representation that they are original materials by the author and or advertiser. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author and may not reflect the views and opinions of the editor, staff or advertisers of Upshift Online Inc. Advertisers assume full responsibility for the entire content and subject matter of their advertisements.

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RIDING THE SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS

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THE 790 PERSPECTIVE

IMPRESSIONS ON THE NEW KTM

To SHARE

OR NOT To SHARE? INSIDER: CHRIS GLASPELL

Growing up in Southern California, I remember back to when I wanted to check out some new surf spots like Malaga Cove. This was back in the day when your tires were slashed and cars vandalized because you were not part of the local scene. Things have gotten better since then, but these territories still have a sense of home turf about them.

Which brings me to trails: who gets to ride them and who gets to share them or when it’s okay or not okay to tell the public about an epic route. I think we’ve been pretty good about telling people where we ride and where our contributors’ adventures have taken them, while always being respectful of protected lands as well as private property. Every state and every country has different regulations on off-road riding. We ask that our contributors be respectful of the local laws and signs so that we don’t lose the right to ride. We all need to practice this etiquette, as trails are disappearing at a rapid rate.

In a story that appeared over a year ago, we shared our route and gave GPS coordinates out like candy, and our readers were stoked to be able to go check out an area that we had featured. Recently we were asked to delete this information as the locals didn’t want the space to become a spot people ride to, regardless if it was public land or not. Respectfully we did what was asked and removed the information and moved on.

As Upshift grows, we will continue to share our offroad journeys as well as share our contributor’s travel around the world while being mindful of local requests not to pinpoint the “perfect trail.” We’ll let you the reader “do the math” with our photos and stories on where we went. Be respectful, ask questions of the locals and get reliable information before heading out on the trail that popped up on your app. Let’s not get to a place of slashing tires.

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The mission is simple, if you want to share your adventures on “insta-adv” you’d better start following us! @upshift_online and use the hash tag #upshift_online on your photos

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INSTA-ADV

THE FW19 ADVENTURE COLLECTION

ADVENTURE STARTS NOW

With a new approach to adventure gear design, a fully upgraded base and mid layer range, amazing GORE-TEX winter gloves with the revolutionary Single Motion Closure System, and updated styles, the GORE-TEX collection not only got bigger, but also better.

WWW.REVITSPORT.COM

Upshift - September

1. Yoshimura RS-4 Slip-on for KTM 790 Adventure R/Adventure The KTM 790 Adventure/Adventure R is hands down the most anticipated adventure bike for 2019. KTM has put an incredible machine together for today’s more aggressive ADV riders.

We started off by developing our Works Finish RS-4 muffler profile to compliment power delivery. This new KTM responded to our design even more than we had hoped, increasing 5.5% in max HP, and 4.7% in max torque. To add to the aesthetics and protection we included a carbon heal guard. That Yoshimura power and rumble that our RS-4 delivers is perfect for both on and off-road adventures. MSRP: $599.99 www.yoshimura-rd.com

Dual purpose at its finest, the Mobber features aggressive traction for both on and off-road while stable central blocks offer outstanding water dispersion.

These dynamic knobbies go anywhere!

ShinkoTireUSA.com

Upshift - September

2. Omega Fibre 2nd Generation Rally Kit For The 2016-2019 Husqvarna 701 Enduro Omega Fibre, a premier manufacturer of advanced composite materials and Rally Bike equipment, has announced an all-new 2nd Generation Rally Kit for the 2016-2019 Husqvarna 701 Enduro. This next generation kit combines years of in-house research and development with highly advanced composite material technology in order to provide the user with a long-distance adventure/race machine that is as lightweight, durable, and versatile as possible.

The various components of the 2nd Generation Husqvarna 701 Rally Kit feature the tried-and-true composite material construction that was utilized in the 1st-Gen kit, ensuring the product is as strong and light as possible. Key design changes have resulted in a slightly reduced overall weight, with the 2nd-Gen kit landing at 15.2 Kg compared to the 1st-Gen kit’s overall weight of 15.6 Kg. Some of these key design changes include the entire front and upper areas of the bike using an even narrower design than the 1st-Gen 701, providing the bike with a very light and slim look as well as reducing the overall aerodynamic profile of the machine. An entirely new windscreen provides optimal wind resistance, while the sleeker and lighter carbon fiber composite navigation tower now houses 2 LED lights enable excellent lighting in all riding conditions.

New forward fuel tanks hold 6.5L per side and are interlinked between each other and the OEM rear fuel tank; this design results in all 3 fuel tanks draining equally while the machine in use which ensures unchanging, optimal weight distribution. A petcock placed between each fuel tank provides the rider with the option of choosing how to manage the motorcycle’s fuel supply. Standard exhaust routing is maintained thanks to a carefully designed and heat-insulated left side fuel tank. The 701’s OEM fuel pump is relocated from its original position in the rear fuel tank to the forward right-hand side fuel tank; this positions the fuel pump at the lowest point of any fuel tank. omegafibre.net

Upshift - September

3. Bolt It On - Removable Wheel Chock System The Bolt It On motorcycle tie-down system for transporting motorcycles safely and securely in your van, toy hauler, enclosed cargo/utility or flatbed trailer installs in 5 minutes or less! Upshift has been using this system in many different configurations to accommodate several different types of motos including big ADV bikes and dualsports and we love it.

• No drilling required.

• Fits Trailers, Toy-haulers & Vans.

• Proudly Made in U.S.A. • It’s removable!

• Installation examples in our Photo Gallery.

• Precision Laser Cut / Powder Coated!

The rack system connects to your existing floor-mounted D-rings, E-track or L-track with Bolt It On’s J-Hook system.

No hand tools or drilling required. The rack is assembled by sliding the desired combination of wheel chocks and tie-down loops onto the main bar and locking them into place. www.boltiton.com

Wide Open

Central Africa

Photo: Tim Burke

2019

Wide Open

Boise National Forest, Idaho

Photo: Simon Cudby

2019

Wide Open

Ephraim, Utah

Photo: Olivier de Vaulx

2019

Wide Open

Ephraim, Utah

Photo: Olivier de Vaulx

2019

BMW Motorrad

TFT Display with Connectivity System

Ride Modes Pro with the Dynamic and Enduro functions.

ONE OBSTACLE. A THOUSAND OPPORTUNITIES. THE NEW BMW F 850 GS.

Find your limits – then surpass them. The F 850 GS’s available Ride Modes Pro optimizes performance, customizes throttle response, traction control, power delivery and ABS, so you can go forth and discover new paths.

The TFT Display lets you connect your smartphone to the F 850 GS via Bluetooth and use the multi-controller to activate a wide range of functions, from navigation to media, so you’re perfectly equipped to discover the undiscovered.

Visit www.BMWMotorcycles.com to see latest offers.

MAKE LIFE A RIDE. ®2019 BMW Motorrad USA, a division of BMW North America, LLC. The BMW name and logo are registered trademarks.

Wide Open

Stanley, Idaho

Photo: Stephen W. Clark

2019

Wide Open

S. Chilcotin Mountains, Canada

Photo: Spencer Hill

2019

Wide Open

Stanley, Idaho

Photo: Stephen W. Clark

2019

Wide Open

Arizona, BDR

Photo: Olivier de Vaulx

2019

Wide Open

Stanley, Idaho

Photo: Simon Cudby

2019

Wide Open

Stanley, Idaho

Photo: Simon Cudby

2019

FIRSt IMPRESSIONS

BY SIMON CUDBY

BRIDGESTONE BATTLAX ADVENTURECROSS AX41 I have ridden about 900 miles so far on the Bridgestone Adventurecross AX41 rubber, mounted to our KTM 790 Adventure R. Initial impressions of this 60% dirt/40% asphalt tire have been very positive on a variety of terrain from twisty road miles to loose rocky climbs. I’ve yet to have one of the infamous adventure bike front end “oh crap” moments, where the front end does an instantaneous slide out of nowhere on a fast sweeping gravel road. Although there are tubeless options, we always run our bikes with super heavy-duty tubes when we are riding primarily off road.

You can look at this tire as a compliment to the A41 90/10 adventure tire from Bridgestone, with a definite move to a more off road friendly product. The AX41 has a 30% stronger and more rigid “high toughness compound” than the A41, and the redesigned block profile reduces irregular wear on one side of the tire’s blocks. Due to the tougher compound, on the asphalt the rubber never feels too squishy, and off road the tires hook up nicely.

Although I haven’t done a head-to-head tire “Shootout!!” with the AX41 versus its competing tires, I can safely say that I feel confident to run these new Bridgestone’s on the 790 until the tread is almost gone at hopefully about 4000+ miles.

I’ll be running this rubber at the KTM rally in Colorado, followed by a big Idaho off road loop in September, and I’m quite happy to do so due to the confidence I have when I’m riding on these AX41 tires on and off road.

The AX41 comes in a variety of size options. Check the Bridgestone website at www.bridgestonemotorcycletires.com for the right sizing for your needs.

Motorex Cross Ester-based en performance fo

s Power 4T is a fully synthetic PAO and ngine oil, the ultimate in quality and or your peace of mind.

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FOR THOSE JUST JOINING IN, I AM IN AFRICA RIGHT NOW TRAVELING FROM CAPE TOWN TO EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND. After 56 countries and 75,000 miles on my own bike, I teamed up with rentamotocycle.co.uk, and we’ve customized and shipped one of their rental-fleet bikes to Cape Town, South Africa. I was given these instructions: “Bring it (and yourself) back to Scotland in one piece, please!”

After landing in Cape Town on May 25th, I’m 1/2 way through circumnavigating South Africa. This journey is on its way north, zig-zagging, all the way to the pyramids in Egypt!

After photographing some of Africa’s most notorious carnivores in Kruger National Park, via rental car, less powered than my motorcycle, I was bound for eSwatini… or Swaziland. All the locals call it Swaziland, and so will I. The tiny landlocked country, on the east side of South Africa, is wedged up against Mozambique and sees relatively little tourism. I didn’t really know what to expect going in.

I entered the country, coming in from the north, on a road called the “Geological Highway” which weaves through the mountains between Nelspruit, South Africa and the capital city of Mbanane. The roads in this region are absolutely amazing and if I had not been running out of daylight, I’d have turned around and retraced my steps over and over again. There were thousands of dirt-road offshoots that left the main road, disappearing into some of the most intriguing terrain I’ve seen in a long time.

The road weaves between exposed rocks, 3.5 billion years old, and through the oldest and most well-preserved portion of our entire planet. It is here where scientists believe that oxygen first rose to the earth’s surface and allowed for the very first forms of biological life. Even for a non-geological person, it was pretty interesting to stop and read the placards on the side of the road.

Most of the country is connected by dirt roads but there are a few highways that cross the country, up-anddown and side-to-side. Just about everything in between is dirt.

With suggestions from my Swazi hostel-host, I spent four days, almost entirely on these dirt roads, exploring small, tiny villages far from where tourists do actually venture.

As I rolled through the rural country-side, I immediately felt something different amongst the people here; Actually, in all of my travels I had never experienced anything quite like it.

First, from the moment I crossed the border to the moment I left, every man, woman, and child made eye contact and acknowledged my presence- either with a head nod, a wave, or a smile. The teenagers, trying to act slick, would discretely pull their hand to their chest and flash me the peace sign. Every single person acknowledged me…every single one. I’ve never experienced that before, anywhere.

Second, it was explained to me that mutual-respect is the foundation of Swazi culture. Whether you like a person or not, that’s fine. Disagree with them, also fine. But respect them.

People from gas station attendants to cashiers in supermarkets would ask, “How are you finding Swaziland?”

They gave a shit. They cared. It’s countries like these that the world needs more of. There’s a lesson to be learned here and Swaziland is a place that shouldn’t be missed.

The border crossing, back into South Africa is a breeze. I planned to meander my way back towards Cape Town on a combination of coastal roads and what turned out to be some of the gnarliest mountain roads I’ve ever been on!

I made it to the coast and eyes upon the Indian Ocean for the first time in my life as a full moon broke over the sea’s horizon.

I was the only guest staying at Sensayuma Backpackers and it seemed like the perfect situation to drink like a sailor with locals who invited me to a birthday party… but that’s a story for a different time.

This village, an hour north of Durban, lies on the mouth of the Tugela River where the waters are teeming with fish. The river meets the relatively warm ocean waters of the Indian Ocean and provides the perfect recipe for bull shark feeding grounds. With hippos and crocks upstream and the potential for aggressive sharks at the mouth of the river, more than a few people advised that swimming in this area is NOT recommended…they did not need to tell me twice.

After picking up replacement Motoz GPS tires from SGS Motorpsorts and Rim in Durban, I was bound for Africa’s most notorious mountain pass with the tires attached to my crash bars. I was likely to run out of rubber eventually and this would allow me to stretch my tire life until the last moment.

It is dry season here in South Africa and the air is heavy with the smell of burnt grass as I roll through the foothills of Drakensburg. It reminds me of the grassy, hilly mountains found along California’s coast – but drier and more rugged.

Ahead of me, the Central African Plateau rockets towards the sky.

To get to the top is a road called “Sani Pass.” This one should be bookmarked and starred on every ADV rider’s “wish-list map.”

The steep, loose gravel pass is made up of 27 sharp hairpin switchbacks that climb, seemingly vertically, up the wall of the plateau.

This pass is a bit different than others in that it doesn’t crest the top of a mountain range and descend down the other side. Sani Pass, rather, climbs a super-steep plateau and, at the top, levels out almost immediately. Before even having time to catch your breath, from wrestling a loaded motorcycle up the switchbacks, the Lesotho border-crossing post greets you almost immediately. There is a treat on the other side though: The highest pub in Africa.

It’s true: 9,425 feet (2873m) above sea level, lies the Sani Mountain Lodge with no shortage of cold beer. Thank god there is a wood-burning stove in this bar because it’s not warm way up here in the winter. I never thought I’d be scraping ice and frost off of my motorcycle on this continent!

Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere: It’s the earliest sunset of the year in this bottom-half of the world and something magical happened after the sun went down. It started as a strange glow and grew brighter and brighter. Recent wildfires had been scorching the Savannah’s of KwaZula-Natal region, leaving low-level haze and poor visibility. From a photography perspective, it had been quite bleak during the day time.

As the full moon rose above the lingering smoke, atop one of Africa’s gnarliest mountain passes, it illuminated the steep canyon walls and lit the sky with some colors that I never expected to see at night. I captured it with a 30-second exposure on one of the canyon wall’s cliff edges. It was a night that I will never forget.

In the past, I’ve talked about the specialness and uniqueness of relationships built on the road and the generosity of strangers as I’ve been traveling. I have to admit, when this particular introduction and offer, from then-stranger Ashley Bruigom, came into my inbox, I was thinking to myself, “What the hell is a fancy establishment doing inviting a dirty, homeless adventure rider onto their premises?!”

Ashley and his fiancée, Haylee, run a high-end resort nestled deep within the high mountains of rural South Africa. Along the Lesotho border, ultra-secluded, and far off the beaten path lies the Tenahead Lodge and Spa. It is by far, the fanciest place I have ever stayed in and something I would never otherwise be able to experience, at this point in my life, if it weren’t for holding the common-ground interest of motorcycles, which lead to this experience in the first place.

After a 5 course dinner, a few imported whiskeys, and breakfast made for gods, it was time to depart. Tenahead Lodge is literally surrounded by some of the best riding in the world and I took full advantage by getting on the road early. I passed through the town of Rhodes and followed rivers that had ice in them from the frigid nights.

The southern coast of South Africa is called the Garden Route and is home to some of the world’s most amazing motorcycling roads (I know, I’m repeating myself, but seriously…South Africa!)

I weaved, twisted, and winded my way, full-circle, back to Cape Town. 5000 miles (8000km) of two-wheeled travel in SA complete!

There was a reason I had to come back to Cape Town and it had to do with 2 full days of pain. Yep, I got poked and prodded by a needle, for 12 hours, by one of my favorite artists on Instagram. Far from impulsive, it was a long time coming. A year prior, I had my favorite illustrator from Sweden, Sara Gullberg (@_saragullberg), draw me a map of my Americas-travels. Using her design, I had tattoo artist, Derek Baker from Metal Machine Tattoo (@mmtattoo), who I had been following for over 2 years, slap 40,000 miles of representative travel on my arm, depicted as a map!

My two favorite artists helping me out…you know, just in case I forget where I’ve been or something!

It was inevitable. I had to start heading north eventually. I had an entire continent ahead of me and I hadn’t left South Africa yet.

Random friendships have been my everything for 2 1/2 years and it was at the Namibia border crossing that I met Botswana farmers Maryna Smith and her daughter. Remember them because they’ll come into play later in Botswana. The border was easy, though everything is easy after dealing with the lunacy of Central America. A $5 USD road toll, a quick glance at vehicle paperwork, and a quick passport stamp later, I was welcomed into Namibia! I made my way north as the landscape transitioned into something that felt more and more like Mars.

My first stop had been pinned on my maps for a while. I arrived at this place… a funky and completely out-of-place-in-a-desert kind of establishment. Surrounded by sand, gravel, dust (and not much else), lies the Canyon Road House with cold beers and decent burgers.

Scattered all around the property are heaps of antique cars, trucks, old gas pumps, broken engines, and other relics of the past. It’s Namibia’s version of a Route 66 museum.

The “resort,” as I’m generously going to call it, offers both rooms and camping spots. Being of the motorcycle-traveler-frugal-minded, I found myself setting up my tent about 10 minutes later.

“You’re far from home it looks, bru,” a voice says from the next campsite – the only other site occupied of about 15.

The conversation progressed into Johan De Lange, along with his fellow final-year law student classmates Migael Loubster and Anscha Rall, inviting me over to “braii.”

I’m not going to insult any South Africans by even trying to describe the magic of a “braii” but I encourage you to look it up. It will change the way you look at cooked-by-fire food for the rest of your life. No seriously, it has ruined me in the same way biltong has (look that one up too).

So there I was, in the middle of the Namib desert, crushing a box of wine and chowing on smokey food. First night in Namibia: Don’t remember it… but I think it was a lot of fun.

Moving on, the journey would continue north through the 2nd most-remote country on earth. Much of the Namibian coast, known as “The Skeleton Coast,” is simply untouchable. These words and these photos will never accurately convey the harshness of this land. I spent three full days without seeing pavement as I worked my way from Aus to Walvis Bay. Sand… holy hell… the sand. Listen, I’m not one of those guys who is going to boast about his riding abilities because I have too many friends that are human-gyroscopes-on-wheels to be allowed to get away with talking like that. They keep me grounded in knowing my abilities. With that said, I’ve still somehow managed to get this far without dying so I’ve got that accolade going for me. All I’m saying is that I’m confident in my ability to get around on two wheels.

Where Namibia gets ya though is in the never-endingness of it all. For hours and hours, there is no mental break from paying attention to where your front tire is. Simply put, Namibia makes you earn your miles while rattling the fillings out of your teeth. I loved every second of it.

Eventually, the inland route would turn back towards Africa’s Atlantic coast where Walvis Bay and Swakopmund lie. Swakopmund is an interesting place. On the coast, it was colonized by the Germans in the late 1800s and they made no effort to be discreet about it. Bavarian-style architecture dominates the churches and much of the central business district while many of the bars serve beer in steins. There was one bar that I walked into (imagine that) where, I swear, I was IN GERMANY: Wiener schnitzels and pretzels, served with mustard… Bratwursts with sauerkraut on the menu. Out back, the Biergarten had a slew of long, shared tables. The best part is that, of course, everything is a fraction of the cost of real-Bavaria (and the riding is better)!

I swung through Namibia’s capital city for the sole purpose of grabbing an oil and air filter from the last dealership I’d see for… well, who knows? Until Europe at least. While nice, the relatively quiet city of Windhoek doesn’t hold all too many attractions worthy of a big detour.

Etosha National Park lies in the north of the country and safaris here are offered at about $100USD/day and I just had to go. While I don’t regret it at all, if you’re looking for epic photo opportunities, I think that the openness of Etosha doesn’t allow for “close” encounters like some other African parks do.

Namibia isn’t all dust and sand though. As I approached the Northeastern part of the country, for the first time in what felt like ages, I started to see the color green. It doesn’t sound like a big deal until you go a while without plants! I arrived in a special area of Nam called the Caprivi Strip, or “the panhandle” where the thunderous croak of hippos crack through the air.

With Botswana up next, I went into high-alert mode for elephants. I’m not being dramatic, they are everywhere here and they are not creatures to be messed with. Botswana has a reputation for not fencing their parks. It’s the animal’s land in Botswana and the population respects it. Scared of an elephant walking down Main Street? Stay at home!

My biggest source of excitement with coming to Africa was the famous Okavango River Delta. Arguably, the mecca of African wildlife. If you’ve ever watched just a few YouTube videos from Africa, you’ve probably seen footage from the mighty Okavango. I spent three full days game-driving a private concession with my friend Alistair Wilmot. I’ll let the photos do the talking.

It’s easy to cover ground in this vast and open country. A 600 km ride brings the journey to the Chobe National Park, where obnoxious warthogs rummage through the market, looking for scraps… or my tent, which subsequently got destroyed. It’s such an “Africa” mishap that I’m not even mad.

The border crossing is hectic, as is to be expected as this journey progresses north, but after navigating the labyrinth of unorganized bureaucracy, I was in Zambia.

A bucket list item lay on my horizon. Shared by two countries, the mighty Zambezi River plummets 300 ft (100m) over the edges of Victoria Falls. I stayed past closing time to capture a sunset over the Gorge. The shot has been one of the best of my life.

This continent has a way about it and it’s crazy to think that I’m not even close to being halfway through it.

Stay tuned for Part III which will follow the tracks north through Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya!

PRO PLUS+ is an ester fortified full synthetic 4T engine oil “Built For Adventure”. For use in all motorcycle brands: KTM, HONDA, BMW, YAMAHA, TRIUMPH, KAWASAKI, SUZUKI, HUSQVARNA & more. Available in 10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50 & 20W-50

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WHAT ARE YOU

RIDING ON?

©2019 Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC. All rights reserved.

THIS 40% ON/60% OFF-ROAD TIRE IS 100% DESIGNED FOR YOUR ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE. START THINKING ABOUT YOUR TIRES.

Wild Countr

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY SPENCER HILL

ry in the Great White North Exploring British Columbia with Mountain View Motorcycle Adventures

As an adult, there are few scenarios in which you meet a handful of strangers and are irrevocably bonded with them in a few hours. In fact, I doubt even the most expensive team-building retreats garner results as effectively as a motorcycle adventure. Any rider knows that motorcycles are a great equalizer, capable of leveling the social & economic playing field for all of those partaking in two-wheel travel. Now to maximize that effect, throw in rugged unknown terrain, stunning landscapes, & fantastic conditions and you would have something close to what you can expect to experience on a tour with Mountain View Motorcycle Adventures. Being based just outside Vancouver they are easily accessible and close to Vancouver international airport. You can bring your own bike or rent a KTM 790 or 1090.

Before my trip with Mountain View Motorcycle Adventures, guided tours were not something that ever crossed my mind. I assumed that they were for riders that wanted to take pavement between touristy points of interest or mellow dirt roads punctuated with hotels. If I were going on a trip somewhere new, I would consult maps, ride reports, or reach out to locals if possible. This method usually yielded satisfactory results, but there were never any guarantees I wouldn’t ride right past the best of what that particular area had to offer. It wasn’t uncommon for me to return from a trip and get bombarded with messages explaining where I should have ridden or lambasting me for what I missed.

In addition to guided tours not appearing on my radar, I hadn’t even considered British Colombia as a place that I needed to ride. Living in the Pacific Northwest only a few hours south of the border, I assumed it was an extension of what I had in my own backyard. I had also never been on a multi-day ride with a group of people I didn’t already know in one way or another, and I was pensive to see how we would coalesce under these circumstances. It turns out I had a lot to learn about guided tours, group dynamics, and B.C. alike.

It was a bright August morning with a nip of fall in the air as I rolled into Squamish, British Columbia. The daunting granite face of The Chief greeted me as I tried to get my bearings in this town that would serve as the staging point for a four-day, three-night tour with Mountain View Motorcycle Adventures.

The surrounding beauty of this area left me open-mouthed before the ride even began. It quickly became evident that this was going to be a totally different experience than what I had envisioned, primarily because I had vastly underestimated British Colombia’s potential. Somehow in the lead up to this trip, I also neglected to acknowledge how luxurious a fully supported tour was going to be compared to my normal riding endeavors. Since I was usually central to organizing and leading rides, it was an apparent change of pace much like going on a vacation. I adapted to the pampered approach to adventure riding immediately, as my gear bag was loaded in the support vehicle and I was given a brief rundown on our planned route. Over lunch, I got the first opportunity to become acquainted with our two guides, support vehicle driver/cook, and four other riders. As a group, we developed a comical rapport immediately, and my concerns about the pack mentality evaporated.

Gear up, toss your bag in the truck, and ride; it was as simple as that and we were on our way. Under the guidance of MVMA mastermind Matt Sutherland, I had left my camping gear, logistical headaches, and concerns at home because apparently, I wasn’t going to need them where we were going.

This was the first time I experienced a guided motorcycle tour of any kind, and I can honestly say I had no idea what I was missing. Strip away stress-inducing factors like route planning, luggage Tetris, & unknown terrain, and you’re only left with the satisfaction of riding. It reminded me of watching TV without commercials or the special treatment I imagine celebrity elicits.

Matt & Aaron of MVMA went above and beyond to take care of all the background noise associated with a multi-day ride, and made sure we could appreciate the epic scenery and unrivaled riding beautiful British Colombia had to offer.

Our itinerary took us from Squamish to Whistler via the scenic Sea to Sky highway and then on to Pemberton, where we bid pavement adieu for the next three days. Once we hit the dirt, it was a blur of unimaginably vibrant turquoise lakes, burly riding, and awe-inspiring views. We stopped in Gold Bridge for fuel where the locals reminded us just how little there is in the way of civilization between them and Alaska. The first and last nights were spent at Tyax Lodge on Tyaughton Lake with one night of proper camping further north and far off the beaten path. The country felt wild, as in, pack your bear mace-wild and be ready for anything Mother Nature can throw at you. We spotted nearly as many black bears as we did deer, not to mention the Grizzly, wolf, and elk scat our guides pointed out to us along the way!

Without a doubt, the highlight of the trip was riding through pristine alpine meadows on a dreamy stretch of singletrack. Actually, it may have been the rustic two-track through a forest fire burn zone overlooking a lake straight out of a Bob Ross painting. Or maybe it was the gnarly old mining road that gained nearly 2,000 vertical feet in under three miles and took us into the alpine.

In stark contrast, I don’t have memories of searching for a campsite at dusk while dog tired, taking wrong turns and backtracking for a half-day because of decommissioned roads, or struggling with a fully loaded bike in technical terrain. I don’t even remember being exceptionally hungry, tired, or sore. The whole trip felt effortless, and that can all be accredited to the hard work of the team at MVMA. Comfort had never really been a top priority for me when traveling on two wheels, and now I fear that this trip ruined me.

Arriving at a campsite with an already blazing fire, cooler full of ice-cold refreshments and a pre-assembled tent is going to be hard to recover from. I mean, how do you go back to freeze-dried meals after a full steak dinner by the fire? Usually, my motorcycle excursions feel like marathons, leaving me physically and mentally drained. This was something I wholeheartedly accepted, business as usual until I went on this tour. Now that I’ve seen the other side though, I’m not sure if my trip logistics will ever be the same.

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By the end of my time with MVMA, the epic landscapes were so frequent that I almost became complicit with their presence. Behind every bend in the trail, there was more raw, seemingly untouched land with no people around to spoil it. Every rocky hill climb, mud bog or technical track brought our group closer together. We all had different riding abilities and backgrounds but out there we were all equal and having the time of our lives.

Eventually, we made our way back to Pemberton by way of The High-line Trail with peg scraping pavement, ultimately guiding us back to Squamish. It felt like the last day of summer camp when everyone is going their separate ways as we loaded up and made promises to ride again soon. This tour changed my perception of guided rides and the kind of comfort attainable while still experiencing epic terrain in excellent places. Consider this a cautionary tale: once you’ve had an experience like the one offered by MVMA that lets you focus solely on the ride and none of the minutia, it might leave you questioning the foundation of every future adventure.

MVMA will be releasing a new list of tours in the coming months for the 2020 season with options of wilderness camping and enduro riding along with self guided trips.

They have their established tours but where they really shine is with their customized tours for groups based on budget, skill level and what kind of experience they are looking for on their adventure.

For more information on Mountain View Motorcycle Adventure tours and dates go to www.mvmadventures.com or check out their instagram @mvmadventures.

CONTINUING TO DELIVER THE MOST INEFFICIENT WAY TO CROSS A STATE What a ride it’s been. Nine epic backcountry routes in just nine short years.

This year we rolled out the long-anticipated Southern California route, our most remote and technical route ever. In 2020 we will celebrate our 10th anniversary and launch our 10th route – the North East BDR. None of which would have been remotely possible without the generosity of our supporters.

Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) is a non-profit organization, so in order to continue to create and provide turn-key ride planning resources, including free GPS tracks, to the ADV community – we need your ongoing support. Visit our website to find out how you can help by volunteering, joining our supporter program, or becoming a sponsor.

Find your adventure:

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II N N N O V AA TT II NN GG

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COMPOS IT E CCONSTRUCTION ONST RUCT ION COMPOSITE AHE AD FIT ME NT SYST EM A-HEAD FITMENT SYSTEM COLL ARBONE PROT ECT ION COLL ARBONE PROTECTION MULTI -ANGLE VIS OR RE LE AS E SYST E M MULTI-ANGLE VISOR RELEASE SYSTEM EF F ECTI VE ROTAT IONAL IMPACT ABS ORPT ION EFFECTIVE ROTATIONAL IMPACT ABSORPTION 4 SHEL L S IZES WIT H 4 DE NS IT Y E PS 4 SHELL SIZES WITH 4 DENSITY EPS ULT RA-H IGH VE NT IL AT ION ULTRA-HIGH VENTIL ATION

DISCOVER MORE AT ALPINESTARS.COM/SM8HELMET DISCOVER MORE AT ALPINESTARS.COM/SM8HELMET

TECH: TO CONNECT OR DISCONNECT

BY S tephen W. Clark

SENA 30K REVIEW New technology is a funny thing; so often we resist the change and say things like: “I don’t need that” or “I’ve made it this long without it.” Then grudgingly you use the technology only to leave with a completely different opinion and saying you won’t ever go without it again. Such is my experience with in-helmet entertainment and communication. For reference, heated grips and cruise control are other items I’ve had similar enlightening experiences with.

Part of my resistance to in-helmet communication systems is that they go against one of the primary reasons I ride a motorcycle in the first place, and that is to disconnect from everyday life. There is something very refreshing about putting on a helmet and riding away from the texts, emails, phone calls that consume our daily lives. That being said, there is for sure a time and a place for in-helmet communicators. Earlier this summer, Kory Cowan of Moto Station and I went on a multiday trip in Europe where Kory and I used SENA 30K’s to communicate. Living off the bikes in a foreign country having the ability to communicate with each other was fantastic. We were able to warn each other of road conditions, talk through plans and have a couple of heart felt chats while cruising through the Alps. Looking back on the trip, had we not had the communicators and all our communication had been done at a standstill with helmets off, it would have not only been a lot more dangerous but it would have added quite a bit of time each day.

Opening the SENA 30K box and seeing the amount of parts and pieces it comes with makes the system seem complicated. But after watching one of SENA’s helpful YouTube videos and looking through the instructions, it became much more clear. It turns out many of the parts in the box are spares so you can mount the kit into several different helmets. We installed the SENA into FLY Trekker helmets. The process was simple: remove the cheek pads, mount the speakers near your ears then mount the controller on the side of the helmet. There are a couple of ways to mount the controller, one using the metal mount that bolts together sandwiching the shell between the two flanges, or using a plastic adhesive backed mount that sticks to the outside of the helmet. We tried it both ways on the two helmets we used on the trip. While the metal mounts are a little harder to get to fit, it makes for a much more solid mount. It did take a bit of trial and error to get the speakers mounted right spot over our ears, and for the sake of comfort and sound quality, it’s definitely worth taking the time with that step. We then snaked the microphone up into the chin piece of the helmet and were ready to use the system.

TECH: TO CONNECT OR DISCONNECT Using the system is super simple even for a technologically challenged individual like myself. Once the two systems were linked together, we were able to talk back and forth. Pressing the buttons and turning the dial on the controller is easy even with thick gloves on. The battery life of the controller is impressive even when using the system on full day rides; on average the battery would last a couple of days between charges. The audio quality is decent and perfectly good enough to communicate with another rider. Every once in a while one of our microphones would get into a position where it was catching wind and transmitting a horrible noise, but was easy to fix by moving the microphone slightly. In addition to the rider to rider communication you can also use the SENA 30K to listen to FM radio or connect via Bluetooth to another device to play audio.

Will I use a SENA everytime I ride, unlikely. But for a big trip where communication between the group is critical, a SENA is an absolute must. The safety element of having communication is massive; we were able to warn each other of changing road conditions, other road users and the first rider to pass other vehicles could let the other rider know that the road was clear. My experience with the SENA 30K in Austria changed my opinion on in-helmet communicators, and when it comes to multi-day trips, it’s an absolute must have piece in your kit.

Stephen and Kory’s trip to Erzberg featured in Issue 35. https://www.upshiftonline.com/magazine-issue/july-2019 Video, Part 1: http://bit.ly/2YBkL8w

Video, Part 2: http://bit.ly/2LlUHeD

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Mosko MOTO Basilisk Jacket and Pant Mosko Moto have quickly made a name for themselves in the adventure market with their line of moto luggage. The company is made up of a rad group of riders who truly live the adventure lifestyle. From the very beginning, the founders Pete and Andrew have been very transparent with their designs and building of the business. Instead of hiding designs and prototypes behind closed doors until a big launch like most brands, Mosko documents the process on ADV Rider posts and on their blog. It’s a refreshing and unique approach to business and makes the customer feel like they are part of the journey. Mosko’s line of soft luggage has become very popular and gaining a great reputation for quality construction and well thought out designs. The latest chapter in the Oregon based brand is their first line of riding apparel.

Mosko have taken a unique layering approach to their gear by separating the waterproof outer-shell, insulating layer, armor and base layer into separate garments, instead of a conventional jacket or pant where the shell, armor and insulating layer are all in one. They have taken this layering approach for two reasons: One, by keeping the armor closer to the rider’s body the armor is less likely to move around and the pads will be in the right place in the event of an accident. Two, this layering approach allows the rider to better manage temperature because they can remove layers based on weather conditions and riding style. For example the rider can remove the waterproof outer shell when it’s warm but still leave on the armor, whereas in the case of a conventional jacket, when the rider removes the jacket they also lose all the protection.

Based on this layering approach the Basilisk is an outer-shell jacket and pant that serves the function of weather protection and adding some abrasion resistance to the system. The Basilisk is built with a three layer eVent waterproof and breathable fabric with Superfabric abrasion fabrics on the elbows, shoulders and back.

TESTED: Mosko MOTO Basilisk Jacket and Pant

For warm conditions the jacket has plenty of venting with two large zippered chest vents, two bicep vents and two exhaust vents in the back. For cold and rainy conditions, the jacket has YKK waterproof zippers with a double gutter storm flap and a snap together dirt skirt at the bottom that keeps wind and water from coming up inside the jacket. There is some adjustability in the jacket with cinch hem and collar adjusters and large velcro side adjusters that allow you to change the fit based on what you are wearing underneath.

The pant is constructed in a very similar way to the jacket with eVent fabrics and Super Fabric in the knees and hems. The pants have a total of six vents and lots of adjustability thanks to a three position waist closure and a zipper adjustable inseam that allows you to change the length of the pant.

Mosko label the Basilisk jacket and pants as enduro-touring pieces and they are intended to be used as part of a layering system for multi-day off-road trips in changeable weather conditions. While many off-road riders and outdoor athletes already use a layering approach to gear, the armor, insulation, weather protection concept is unique in the adventure motorcycle market. Being able to better regulate temperature and increase protection makes a lot of sense plus it’s really cool to see a company stepping out on a limb and bringing something new to the market.

For more information go to www.moskomoto.com

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WORDS: STEPHEN W. CLARK PHOTOS: STEPHEN W. CLARK AND SIMON CUDBY

Ask anyone who as ever visited Stanley Idaho and it will likely rate very close to the top of the list of places they have ever been. There is something about the place that makes it really special. Situated in the Sawtooth Basin next to the Salmon River with the epic Sawtooth mountains as a backdrop, it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. It isn’t really close to anywhere; no matter which route you choose you are looking at several hours of windy roads to get there, and it’s small with only a grand total of 68 people who are lucky enough to call Stanley home.

The town’s slogan is the Gateway to the Sawtooth Wilderness and while there is no mechanized access allowed in wilderness, there are still an incredible amount of roads and trails in the area for riding motorcycles. No matter what kind of bike you ride you are going to have a good time in the Stanley area. For the enduro crowd there is a lot of singletrack of varying levels of difficulty and for bigger ADV bikes there are some fantastic dirt roads and super windy flowing asphalt.

Idaho is best known for potatoes but what really makes it unique is the mountains, the center of which contains the largest sections of Wilderness in the country outside of Alaska. The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is over two million acres of untouched land. The only way to access it is either from the air, by floating down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River or by riding a few of the roads that have been grandfathered into the wilderness.

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There are only a few of these roads and they have a wilderness boundary of 300 feet on each side of the road. USFS Road 172 is a gem of a road that follows a big arc up into the wilderness, crossing over two summits along the way. The highlight of the route is the Pinyon Peak Lookout that sits at almost ten thousand feet and offers spectacular three hundred and sixty degree views of the Sawtooths and Frank Church Wilderness.

If singletrack enduro is your forte’ Stanley has no shortage of legal singletrack trails in every direction; there is a lot of it and some of it is really technical.

It’s hard to pick a favorite but one of the most beautiful trails in the area is trail 682 from Little Boulder Creek to Livingston Mill. Part of the Tour of Idaho, this trail runs along the East Side of the White Clouds Wilderness offering incredible views.

Trails and roads in this area are remote and many of them see little traffic so it’s important to be prepared. It’s not recommended to leave town without tools, tubes, plenty of water and food and some sort of satellite communicator like a SPOT or InReach. Many of the trails in the area are also mixed use so you may come across hikers and bikers closer to trailheads; remember to be respectful and try to avoid any type of confrontation.

Stanley is often the coldest place in the country and even in August the average low is in the thirties. It’s said that there are over 290 mornings a year with frost, so no matter when you go be prepared for cold mornings but also prepare for hot afternoons. In the summer, highs can be into the eighties. While the town itself has a small population, it is prepared for visitors. The Stanley Bakery makes an excellent breakfast and the Bridge Street Grill is great for dinner and drinks with a view of the Sawtooths.

Whether you make it a base camp and do loops out of there or make it a destination on a ride through Idaho, it’s absolutely worth visiting Stanley.

Avenza Phone App - The Keys to the Castle The US is an amazing place, not only does it have some of the most spectacular terrain on the planet but a lot of that terrain is open for motorized access. There are countless miles of completely legal maintained motorized trails on public land across the country that we are able to ride basically for free. As long as you have a trail sticker and a spark arrestor it’s pretty much fair game. Compared to most places in the world where motorized off road travel on public lands is either illegal or very restricted, we are really fortunate to have the trails that we have.

Every area is slightly different but the hierarchy of public land in the west in laymans terms goes something like this: BLM land is typically your lower elevation desert type terrain and USFS is higher elevation forests. Both BLM and USFS typically have motorized trails. Then there is the really beautiful land that is Wilderness where there is no motorized or mechanized travel allowed. In some cases National Parks will have some dirt roads that can be ridden but for the most part the parks are heavily managed and restricted.

When it comes to mountain riding and singletrack it’s the USFS land that has the best trails and for the most part the USFS roads and trails are well defined, maintained, and free maps are available to help riders navigate the trails.

For me the Avenza Maps phone app has been the key that gave me access to the millions of acres of off-road riding available across the West. It’s a simple app that allows you to view maps and track your location on those maps even when outside of signal. There are a million different free and paid maps available in the store but it’s really helpful when using the Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps. It’s basically a digital version of those free white trail maps that you usually find in gas stations and other public places near trailheads. The beauty of these maps is that they only have Forest Service approved motorized trails on them and the different widths are designated with different lines. Typically most areas have a selection of roads open to highway vehicles, roads open to all vehicles, trails open to vehicles 50” or less in width and trails open to motorcycles only. With just the roads and trails on them and no other lines like rivers, hiking trails etc, the maps are really simple so it’s easy to ensure that you are always on the correct trail.

The hardest part about using the app is finding the maps that you need, the Forest Service segment areas into individual forests, then Ranger Districts within those forests. Across the US there are a total of 154 forests and over 600 Ranger districts. Each one of these Ranger districts will have its own map and to navigate the trails in that area you need to download the map before you head out. Typically when riding enduro you will ride all day on the same map but when you are going faster and covering more ground on a ADV bike it gets more tricky because it’s not uncommon to cross several maps in the course of a day.

The app is a great resource that helps you find new trails and helps with responsible trail usage. If we want our trails to stay open it’s important that people ride them and ride them responsibly by staying on designated trails at all times. https://www.avenzamaps.com Download the app for your iphone here.

T he 790 Perspect ive WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: CHAD DE ALVA

Has your throttle hand ever tried to get you into trouble on a bike? The kind of trouble where your right hand wants to go full send, but your brain realizes that crashing, exploding, and internet worthy carnage may ensue? In my case, this happened the other day on a two-track dirt road, and it went something like this: Chad’s Brain: “Hey Chad! There’s a corner coming up. We’re going pretty fast, so we should slow down. Going straight through that corner looks like a great way to get a soil sample with your face or check out how well rooted those trees are.” Chad’s throttle hand: “But going fast is fun! We got this.” Chad’s Brain: “But we’re on an adventure bike. These things don’t corner like the dirtbikes we’re used to. And at that moment I entered the corner.

What happened next was honestly surprising to me. I had overcooked the entry to the corner, and I’d tuned into that fact a little late. It may have had something to do with some internal debate. Thanks for that one, throttle hand. Instinct took over and I pushed the bike over into the corner like it was a dirtbike, and I looked through the turn. Surprisingly enough, the bike didn’t go Titanic on me and I realized there was a chance that I was going to ride out of this corner. Just about the time my face was starting to grin from making this corner that was scary only a moment ago, my throttle hand decided to remind me that you have to look good on corner exit, and more throttle was applied. The back end stepped out and roost was thrown, and no one was there to see it. But that didn’t matter – what mattered is that this adventure bike had just demonstrated to me how it was exponentially more capable than my old ADV bike. I have no doubt that on my old bike, I would have most likely not made that corner, and the result probably would have involved hitting one or more trees.

But thanks to my new KTM 790 Adventure R, I’ve got a whole new world of performance, capability, and riding experiences to get to know – and I couldn’t be more excited to do so.

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I initially thought I wasn’t going to get one. The big names on the ‘gram had all gotten theirs in early June, and here I was, first in line at my dealer wondering if one of the 360-odd bikes sent to the USA would be mine. As reports came in of just how bloody awesome these new 790 Rs really were, I tried not to focus on the fact that my dealer probably wasn’t getting the bikes they were supposedly allocated. The days of June ticked by, and still nothing from my dealer. Talking to new 790 R owners whose opinions I explicitly trust didn’t help my not having one, but I was stoked to hear that the bike that the ADV community had been waiting years for was everything folks had hoped it would be. Plus, it was just awesome to hear riders talk about a bike and their riding experiences with obvious excitement. I had all but resigned myself to the fact that a 790 R wasn’t in my future – but then in late June I got the call.

Throwing a leg over my new 790 R for the first time, I could instantly tell that this bike was nothing like my old adventure bike. It was almost hard to contemplate how this new bike had roughly 400ccs less displacement but made similar peak power to my old bike. That displacement savings helps the 790 R weigh in at more than 115 pounds less than my old ADV bike, and that’s pretty impressive. Factor in key things like suspension that can actually stand up to jumping the bike, fully defeatable traction control and ABS, and the 790 R is most definitely on a different level than my previous adventure bike. Yet comparing specs side by side on paper is one thing – what matters is how the bike performs and how the bike makes you feel when you’re riding it. Turns out, jumping an adventure bike is a pretty neat thing to do.

I tried jumping my old ADV bike once. It was one of the first rides I had on this 1200cc big bike, and since it was my first proper ADV bike, I was very much still getting to know what this bike could do.

I’m no stranger to jumping on dirtbikes, so I mean, how hard could jumping an ADV bike be? I was riding along the main forest service road that goes through one of our local single track systems, and on a familiar bar ditch that crosses the road, I let’er eat and compressed the suspension as I rode up the bar ditch. Upon landing, I bottomed out. Hard. I introduced my face shield to my windscreen, and my bike’s skidplate to the bottom of my bike’s engine. Thanks for that one too, right hand. Extensive hammering and straightening of the skidplate was required, and lessons on bike capabilities were learned. Stock suspension on old bike – not for jumping. Yet on the 790 R, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying finding things to air out, because the suspension is actually set up for such things from the factory. I feel like I’m breaking the rules being able to do this on an adventure bike, and I can’t tell you how awesome that is. The other plus of suspension that is set up for jumping means that you can ride the 790 R much more aggressively off road, and there’s nothing quite like bombing around in the dirt on an adventure bike.

On any off-road surface, the 790 R feels planted and stable. Even when you feel like you’re pushing it, the bike feels like it’s barely sped up to a jog. When the trail requires you to slow down, the 790 R can scrub speed so quickly that I swear my old bike was braking on ice with how long it took to slow down. Another thing that’s new to me is being able to turn the ABS off, which means that for some reason my back tire seems to be wearing quickly, but I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I’ve been sessioning the backyard single track to learn how to brake slide an ADV bike. Speaking of singletrack, when the trail turns rocky and technical, the 790 R can actually hold pace and charge through rock sections. The 790 R lets you pick a line and shoot it, and if you see a better line, you can take it just by looking at it – and that’s on 70/30 (on-road / off-road) tires. To compare it to my old big bike that wore 40/60 tires, I’ve traded my Panamax sized container ship that takes miles to make a turn for a Destroyer that can turn on a dime.

Knowing that the 790 R can handle considerably harder trails than my old trail whale of a bike has enabled me to completely change my approach to how I plan rides and how I go about exploring the world. I’m less concerned about how gnarly a trail looks in Google Earth, and likewise I’m less worried that I’m going to come across a section of trail that I’m not going to be able to get the 790 R through. Call me crazy, but after a buddy herniated his L3-L4 disk by wrestling his big bike down some trail, I’ve been inclined to save the properly gnarly stuff for a dirt bike, where I’m actually going to want to ride the hard stuff more than once. If you think of all of the trails and roads in the world like a giant network, the number of connections that the 790 R can make is exponentially greater than the number of connections my old bike could make. That means that I’ve got a ton of new places to go explore, and that I can link all kinds of cool trails, roads, and places together in new ways to create all kinds of awesome new rides.

The KTM 790 Adventure R has proven to be a real game changer for me, and I have absolutely loved spending the last couple of months getting to learn what this new adventure bike can do. The short answer is that it’s like a big dirt bike off-road, and on pavement the bike is equally as happy threading through corners or hanging out at freeway speed to get to the good stuff. This is one bike that does quite well in so many different types of riding and in so many different places. My old adventure bike was a great introduction to the whole adventure riding thing, and though I’ve certainly explained how it’s not a 790 R, I do need to say that it was a great learning experience for me that I’ve really appreciated. I’ve had many great rides on that bike and it has taught me so much about riding and myself. Moving from a 1200cc monster that weighed in at just under 600 pounds to a 790 R is a significant change in bike, but it’s also the reason I can appreciate the 790 R so much. The best part of this new perspective that the 790 R has given me, is that I come home from each ride grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. Having a bike that can make you feel that way is a great thing. The KTM 790 Adventure R is an awesome bike.

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